Malaysia: Johor proposes ferry services to Singapore

YEE XIANG YUN The Star 26 Jul 16;

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) said the proposal was to help ease the traffic congestion at the Causeway and the Second Link faced by road users and commuters who travelled between Malaysia and Singapore via Johor Baru.

He said the ferry terminal would offer services from Kong Kong in Pasir Gudang to Singapore’s Changi Ferry Terminal, which offers ferry services to Tanjung Belungkor in Desaru here and Batam, Indonesia.

“The proposed ferry terminal, which includes water taxi services, would enable those staying in the east of Johor Baru like those in Pasir Gudang and working in Singapore to cut down on travel time,” he said on Tuesday.

Mohamed Khaled said this when attending the Johor Baru-Singapore Taxi Services Terminal Management Hari Raya open house.

Johor wants 'water taxi' service between Kong Kong, Pasir Gudang and Changi
AHMAD FAIRUZ OTHMAN New Straits Times 26 Jul 16;

JOHOR BARU: The Johor government is seeking to set up a 'water taxi' service for passengers and vehicles between Kong Kong, Pasir Gudang and Changi, Singapore.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said a feasibility study would be conducted by the Federal government on the service, that will involve the usage of ferries to ply the 20-minute route.

He said the service will connect the eastern part of Johor with Singapore, and would benefit travellers coming to and from Pengerang, which is an upcoming oil and gas hub in southeast Johor.

"There is a proposal to operate a water taxi from Changi to a new terminal in Kong Kong that will connect Singapore to eastern Johor within 20 minutes.

"It is not only a passenger ferry, but one that will transport vehicles.

This has been brought to the Federal government for consideration.

"It is much welcomed and should be promoted because it could overcome and reduce the usage of the Causeway and Second Link," Khaled told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri event organised by Johor Baru-Singapore taxi driver operators.


Johor proposes water taxis from Pasir Gudang to Singapore
Channel NewsAsia 26 Jul 16;

JOHOR: The Johor state government has proposed to introduce water taxi services between the Kong Kong terminal in Pasir Gudang and Singapore's Changi terminal.

This was announced by Johor's Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin at a Hari Raya event on Tuesday (Jul 26), according to local media reports.

A feasibility study will be conducted on the service, which will involve 20 ferries plying the 20-minute route, the New Straits Times quoted the chief minister as saying.

The ferries will not only carry passengers, but will also be able to transport vehicles, he said, adding that the proposal should be welcomed as it would help "overcome and reduce the usage of the Causeway and Second Link".

The Changi ferry terminal currently offers ferry services to Tanjung Belungkor, which is a 15-minute drive from tourist attraction Desaru. There are also boats to take passengers from Changi Point ferry terminal to Pengerang in southeastern Johor.

- CNA/Bernama/hs


Facility in Pasir Gudang will help reduce congestion and boost tourism, says Johor MB
The Star 28 Jul 16;

JOHOR BARU: Johor has proposed for a ferry terminal in Pasir Gudang as a means to help reduce congestion as a large volume of commuters are travelling between Malaysia and Singapore through the Causeway and Second Link.

The new terminal, to be set up in Kong Kong, would include water taxi services besides vehicles to ferry them to Singapore’s Changi Ferry Terminal, said Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

“With this service, we hope to at least reduce the congestion at the two existing routes to and from Singapore.

“I cannot say for sure by how much we can cut down the traffic at the existing routes as that would need to be studied first,” he said when attending the Johor Baru-Singapore Taxi Service Terminal Management Hari Raya open house on Tuesday.

He added that the proposal would be submitted to the Federal Government soon to consider and once given the green light, the project would start next year.

He said the proposed terminal was also an alternative mode of transportation for those staying in the east of Johor Baru such as Pasir Gudang as it would cut down on travelling time to Singapore.

“It takes about 20 minutes from the proposed terminal to Changi and this is convenient as commuters need not go all the way to the city centre (for Causeway) and Gelang Patah (for Second Link),” he said.

He added that the terminal would also create job opportunities, such as businesses and for public transportation like taxi services.

“Once we launch Pengerang and Desaru as the next tourism attraction next year, more Singaporeans would be visiting Johor.

“This increases the need for such a terminal to be set up here,” he said.

The island republic’s ferry terminal currently offers services to Tanjung Belungkor in Desaru here and Batam, Indonesia.

No request from Johor authorities on ferry services to S’pore yet: MPA
Today Online 28 Jul 16;

SINGAPORE — More connections - including ferry services - between Singapore and Malaysia are welcome, but no request has been made by the Johor authorities yet, said the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) in response to media reports that Johor was keen on ferry links to ease traffic congestion at the land checkpoints.

On Tuesday (July 26), The Star reported that the Johor state government had suggested setting up a ferry service as an alternative transport option for commuters travelling to and from Singapore.

Johor Chief Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin had told reporters that a proposed ferry terminal could offer services from Kong Kong in Pasir Gudang to Singapore’s Changi Ferry Terminal.

In response to queries, an MPA spokesperson said: “Singapore welcomes enhanced connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore, including ferry services. MPA has yet to receive any request from Johor Port Authority regarding additional ferry services to new destinations from Changi Ferry Terminal. When we receive such a request, MPA will assess its feasibility.”